41I Off Broadway Theater in West Bloomfield LLJ CI) 0 CC CC CC C.) Cr) C.3 CC O ca ca O O CL The cast of Rent. lic school, I would go to Temple Israel and feel like the Ugly Duckling." Despite these feelings of isola- tion, Seller managed to win the spotlight as Temple Israel's grad- uation student speaker. "I talked about the right to choose, and the fact that many Reform Jewish parents give their children the option to practice Judaism. But it was, and still is, my opinion that it's important for the future of Judaism that parents make some choices for their children. "For example, I think parents should stress having a Jewish home and a Jewish education. If you give your children a choice between an easy path or a hard one, they will likely take the easy one. But the harder path results in greater rewards." In the process of finding him- self, Seller has realized it is im- portant not to hide behind a facade — and for him, that means coming out. "I want peo- ple to know who I really am — and that I am gay," says Seller. "For me, being gay is an inte- gral part of who I am and where I've gone. Growing up, being gay meant being a stereotypical ef- feminate hair dresser, which had nothing to do with who I was." He recalls becoming aware of his sexual identity in high school. "Luckily," he says, "coming out in the open isn't as difficult in a metropolitan area like Detroit. My parents were aware by the time I graduated college, but for them, it was like a lefty versus a righty. "They were always loving and accepting in every way, shape and form. I couldn't live with se- crets or lies and decided if I was going to have a relationship with my parents, I needed to be hon- est. By keeping your sexuality a secret, you run out of things to talk about, and a whole compo- nent of your life is off-limits." Seller wants to be a role mod- el for gay men. "I want people at home to know that it's all right to be gay," he says. "I want them to know you can be embraced by your community; you can hold your head up high and get on with your life." "That's what's so great about Rent. Here comes a show in which a group of artists is depicted — you have a gay couple, a straight couple, a lesbian couple. And they are all friends and they all learn how to love each other and have a great time doing it." Seller's mother and father, Caroline and Mark Seller, couldn't be more proud of their son. "He is a star in our life, and an example for everyone around him," says Mark Seller. "He is hard-working and sets goals that he has been able to attain." • "We always knew that he would be something special in the- ater," says Caroline Seller. "When other mothers were driving their kids to baseball and hockey prac- tice, I was taking Jeff to try-outs. I knew he would be successful. I just never imagined it would hap- pen at such a young age." For now, Seller's priority is preparing for productions of Rent all over the world. "We open in Los Angeles in September, Toronto in December and next year in Australia, London and Japan. We open in Detroit (open- ing night will be a benefit for Con- gregation Shir Tikvah) in April 1998," says Seller. "This requires an incredible amount of strategy, planning, analysis and nurturing. But Rent has just whet my appetite, and I hope it's only the beginning of a long career in the theater." FEATURING Sol Frieder KLEZMER Mack Pitt "Ifyou could eat theater, The World of would be dessert." Lawrence DeVine, Theater Critic, Detroit Free Press 11 CHRYSLER Aaron De Roy. Theatre 6600 West Maple Road West Bloomfield FUND SKILLMAN FOUNDATION mhhigan council !iv arts and odium; affairs Senior, Student & Group Rates Available. Hearing Devices Available & Wheel Chair Access. TREATSEATS' discount coupons available at participating Target and Hudson's stores. PEN SALE BIG DISCOUNTS PENS WRITE... A WATERMAN EXPRESSES. We Carry a Full Line of MAY CIGAR OF THE MONTH 1993 Macanudo Vintage Cabinet Selection . • Fountain Pens • Ball Points • Rollers • Pencils Buy Now & Save! WATERMAN PARIS 'p PARKER DUOFOLD NEW COLORS ELECTRIC SHAVERS CUISINART KITCHEN-AID MIXERS BRAUN-SONICARE TOOTHBRUSHES Oscar Braun's Hours: 15075 W. Lincoln, Oak Pak (810) 968-5858 Mon.-Fri. 10-4 Also available: 1979 1984 1988 Michigan's Most Complete Tobacconist Ilvmidor One ti 0) cf, >_ 20000 W.TEN MILE ROAD • SOUTHFIELD, MI 48075 (NW corner of Evergreen/Ten Mile Rd., off the Lodge Freeway or 1-696) Phone 248-356-4725 • 248-356-4600 • Fax 248-356-4726 05